If you call the phone number for the Maui seminar and request additional information, they send out a beautiful brochure. This brochure contains a wealth of information, answering a few questions we have been asked in this newsletter. We were surprised to receive a copy addressed directly to NNL. I believe this was the result of our attempt to get permission to report their phone number in the postcard that we sent out to readers. Since the brochure was addressed to NNL, we are repeating key information here for those who didn't send off for the brochure.

First a comment on the overall brochure. It was very professional and pleasantly designed. It was not lacking in any way and was captivating to read. But it was somewhat out of character for Carlos' group. Of course, I haven't seen any other brochure like this, so I have no idea what would be considered appropriate. Yet I was struck by the fact that the brochure was somehow different. I'm sure other readers noticed the same thing. There were two things that were odd. A lot of group specific information was volunteered, and the brochure was on the heavy side when mentioning credentials. It was the type of brochure that might come about if an independent source, one that commonly designed brochures for esoteric speakers, were to be assigned the task of creating it. In such a case you would expect to see a lot of verbiage about the speaker's imminent qualifications for their task. Most of this was directed at the Chacmools, so perhaps the message here is that we should accept and trust them as being a proper part of Carlos' group.

Here's a selection of the information which readers might find interesting:

"The focus of the workshop will be tensegrity. Tensegrity is a series of movements that deal with the dualism between the self and what men and women of ancient Mexico called the "energy body." These movements were taught to Carlos Castaneda by his legendary teacher, don Juan Matus and became essential in Castaneda's own struggle to break the barriers of normal perception. These movements provide an extraordinary window on the warrior's world."

"Yet without energy, there is no game."

"This workshop will be in the charge of Kylie Lundahl, Reni Murez and Nyei Murez, who are Carlos Castaneda's closest associates, and the ones who have compiled all of the movements of Tensegrity into one single unit. Tensegrity: Twelve Basic Movements to Gather Energy and Promote Well-Being is a series of maneuvers to enlarge perception in order to enter into bona fide, all-inclusive new worlds."

The next three paragraphs are together and the signature from Carlos is attached to them:

"Don Juan explained that the gigantic reclining figures called the chacmools, found in the pyramids of Mexico, were the representations of guardians. He said that the look of emptiness in their eyes and faces was due to the fact that they were dream-guards, guarding dreamers and dreaming sites."

"Following don Juan's tradition, we call Kylie Lundahl, Reni Murez and Nyei Murez chacmools. The inherent energetic organization of their beings allows them to possess a single-minded purpose, a genuine fierceness and daring which make them the ideal guardians of anything they choose to guard, be it a person, an idea, a way of life, or whatever."

"In the instance of our video, these three guardians demonstrate the techniques of Tensegrity because they are best qualified for the task, the three of them having completed the gigantic task of compiling the four individual strands of magical passes taught by don Juan and his people to us."

-Carlos Castaneda

Another paragraph states that Kylie and Nyei are Florinda's wards. Reni is Carol's ward.

Consider this information reported so far in NNL: the three Chacmools, Carlos, Carol, Florinda, Taisha, the Cyclic beings (Tracy & ???). We have also heard of another mysterious woman who is not one of these, and probably not the blue scout. That brings the size of Carlos' party to at least 10 to 12, depending on how you count the blue scout and the death defier.

Champurrado.

... Has anyone else tried Manchego cheese and champurrado as mentioned in Being-In-Dreaming? I've tried the manchego and found it to taste excellent. I've been eating vast quantities of it since it was mentioned in the book. I have a question for the newsletter: Does anyone know what the ingredients are for champurrado and how to make it. I did get a recipe for it from a Mexican restaurant in Arizona, but it involves items that I can't find in the US. If anyone knows how to make it and where to get these items from, I'd be very appreciative...

Source: MA

Editor: And all this time our food editor has been trying to find don Juan's tamale recipe. Here's what she said about champurrado:

Champurrado is atole that's been flavored with chocolate. Atole is a pre-columbian beverage which could be described as pudding made from corn flour. The same corn mixture used to make tortillas and tamales (Masa) is used to make champurrado. Other flavors are blackberry, strawberry, pineapple, or even chili. The consistency can range from thicker than pudding to that of a thin milkshake. The ingredients that might be hard to get would be the Mexican spiced chocolate and the instant Masa. I believe that you will find the Masa in your grocery store next to the flour, in the cooking section. The Masa is sold just like flour, in 5 pound sacks, but 1 pounders are out there. Look for Masa Harina, or Instant Masa, or a spanish equivalent. The chocolate ought to be available too, look in the Ethnic Foods section, or the International foods section. This chocolate is sold in 21/4" round blocks with dividing marks on them, like a cut up pie. Commonly, a package has 6 disks, or 18 ounces. You use a fraction of a disk to make the drink. Or substitute as specified below, but it won't taste exactly the same. Champurrado is not quite as chocolatey as an American might expect. But it's good. Some recipes are extremely sweet. The one below is less sweet, slightly more chocolatey, and the thickness of a thin milk shake. You can add 1 whole clove when you boil the cinnamon, if you like. Evaporated milk is sometimes used, and sometimes no milk at all, but all recipes I've seen use some form of milk. For an american taste, use 1 whole circle chocolate. This recipe serves 3.

11/4 cups water 1/2 to 1 cinnamon stick (3") 3/4 cup milk 1/2 cup instant Masa flour 3/4 cup warm water 1/3 circle of Mexican style sweet chocolate (1oz) or 60 Nestles semi-sweet chocolate chips (1oz) plus 2 teaspoons sugar plus a pinch of cinnamon plus 2 drops vanilla extract. 2 Tablespoons brown sugar (or up to 10!) 3/4 cup milk.

In a large sauce pan, bring the 11/4 cup water and the cinnamon stick to a boil. Remove heat, cover, and wait 1 hour. Many recipes don't do this, but it's tastier. Slowly mix the Masa flour into the 3/4 cup warm water, till smooth. Remove the cinnamon stick and strain the Masa mixture into the cinnamon water through a sieve or screen. Add the first 3/4 cup milk.Bring to boil on low heat. Stir constantly, it burns easily. Add Mexican chocolate (or substitutes) and brown sugar. Continue cooking at a low boil for 15 minutes, stirring constantly. If you have a non-stick pan, you can stir a little less. Finally, slowly mix in the last 3/4 cup milk. It's done.

Nagualist Newsletter/ Issue 5 February/ March 1995